Staff Members
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Umesh Ramnarain (PhD) is a professor of science education in the Department of Science and Technology Education at the University of Johannesburg. His main research interest is in inquiry-based science education, with a particular focus on its uptake in South African classrooms. His research has been published in top-tier journals such as the International Journal of Science Education, Research in Science Education, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, Studies in Science Education, Chemistry Education Research and Practice, and Teaching and Teacher Education. He is the associate editor of the journals ‘Research in Science Education’ and ‘African Journal of Research in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education’ and has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Research in Science Teaching. He is currently a B-rated researcher by the NRF. He is a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf).
Contact: uramnarain@uj.ac.za
Dr Mafor Penn
Mafor Penn (PhD) is a senior lecturer at the Centre for Advanced Learning Technology in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (CALTSTEAM) and the Department of Science and Technology Education at the University of Johannesburg. She holds a Ph.D. in Science Education, a Masters in Science Education (MEd with distinction), and a BSc in Biochemistry (Upper Hons). Mafor currently does research in technology-enhanced science education with a focus on the affordances of Virtual and Augmented Reality (VAR) in science teaching and learning, simulation-enhanced science learning and Inquiry-Based Science Education (IBSE). She has also published some of her work in reputable journals and various national and international conferences, including SAARMSTE (Southern African countries), ISTE (South Africa), ICET, ICPE, ICESS & END (International). Before joining the University of Johannesburg, Mafor spent eight years in high school teaching Natural Sciences, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematics and Technology in South African schools.
Contact: mpenn@uj.ac.za
Noluthando Mdlalose is a Lecturer in the Centre for Advanced Learning Technologies in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (CALTSTEAM) and the Department of Science and Technology Education (SciTechEd). She started her lecturing career as an Assistant Lecturer from 2020 to 2022. Miss Mdlalose holds a Masters in Science Education (with Distinction in 2022) and is currently doing her PhD in science education, mainly specializing in the use of Virtual Reality classrooms (VR-Classroom) embedded with Learning Analytics (LA) to professionally develop Physical Science pre-service teachers’ Inquiry-based instructional strategies. Noluthando’s research niche areas are Inquiry-based learning approaches in science classrooms, Science teachers’ formative assessment practices, Mobile learning in science classrooms and the use of advanced immersive technologies for science teaching and learning.
Contact: nmdlalose@uj.ac.za
Miss Thato Charlot Mashishi
Miss Thato is a Research Assistant at the CALTSTEAM Research Center. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Senior and Further education (FET), specializing in Life Sciences (Biology) and Geography and an Honours degree in STEM Education (Science). She is currently enrolled for a Masters degree (MPhil) in Virtual and Augmented Reality in STEM Education at UJ. In this MPhil qualification she focuses on developing and using Augmented Realities to support digital game-based inquiry learning in science classrooms. Furthemore, her fascination with working with advanced technologies and the allure of the digital world lays a great foundation for a career that would redefine the landscape of 4IR and its impact in the educational context. Her journey as a university student, serves as an inspiring narrative of dedication, innovation, and a profound belief in the transformative potential of cutting-edge learning technologies.
Distinguished Visiting Professors
Prof Joseph Krajcik (Michigan State University)
Joseph Krajcik (PhD) serves as director of the CREATE for STEM Institute and is the Lappan-Phillips Professor of Science Education and a University Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University. Throughout his career, Joe has collaborated with colleagues and science teachers to design and test project-based learning environments to improve teaching practices and to research student learning and engagement. Joe has also investigated the design of formative assessment to promote student learning, and recently, he has explored machine scoring to assess open-ended assessment tasks. Joe served as president of NARST, from which he received the Distinguished Contributions to Science Education Through Research Award in 2010. He served as the lead writer for developing Physical Science Standards for the NGSS and the lead writer for the Physical Science Design team for the Framework for K–12 Science Education. In 2020, Joe was elected to the National Academy of Education and received the prestigious McGraw Prize for Innovation in Pre-K-12 Education. In 2021, the International Society for Design and Development in Education Prize for Excellence in Educational Design. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts, and his book on Project-based Learning is in its fifth edition. He is a Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Department of Science and Technology Education at the University of Johannesburg.
Prof Timothy Teo (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Timothy Teo (PhD) is Professor and Associate Dean (Research) at the Faculty of Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Having worked in Australia, Macau, New Zealand, and Singapore, Timothy was previously Professor of Education at Murdoch University and Distinguished Professor of Education and Associate Dean (Research and Personnel Development) at the University of Macau. In addition to his fulltime employment, Timothy holds the position of Adjunct Professor at Murdoch University (Australia), Edith Cowan University (Australia), Honorary Chair Professor at the National Tsing Hua University (Taiwan), Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg (South Africa), Visiting Professor at the Universiti Tunki Abdul Rahman (Malaysia), and Adjunct Professor at the Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education (Hong Kong). Timothy’s research interests are multi-disciplinary and include both substantive and methodological areas. These are Educational Psychology (Self-efficacy-teachers and students; Beliefs about teaching and learning; Meta-cognition), ICTin Education (Technology acceptance and adoption; e-learning), Music Education (Psychological processes of music teaching and learning), and Quantitative Methods (Psychometrics; Instruments development and validation; cross-cultural measurements; issues in survey development and administration; structural equation modeling; multilevel modeling; latent growth modeling). Timothy is Editor-in-Chief of The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher (TAPER) (Scopus Q1; SSCI Q2) and a member of over 10 journal editorial boards. A highly published and cited scholar, Timothy has edited three books, written many book chapters and conference papers, and published over 210 journal articles, with 160 in highly ranked SSCI journals. His Google Scholar citations are over 22,200 with an H-index of 78. In 2023, Prof Timothy Teo was ranked 57 out of the top 100 Education scholars in the world by a report from Stanford University (USA). From a recent release of the 2024 Edition of Ranking of Best Scientists in the field of Social Sciences and Humanities (Research.com), Professor Timothy Teo was ranked #886 in the world and #9 in China. He is a Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Department of Science and Technology Education at the University of Johannesburg.
Visiting Professors
Prof Yiyu Cai (Nanyang Technological University).
Yiyu Cai (PhD) heads the Computer-aided Engineering Labs and the Digitalization Cluster of Energy Research Institute at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. He is the deputy director of NTU’s Centre of Augmented and Virtual Reality. His research interests are mainly on Virtual and Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and their applications in Education, Biomedicine, and Building & Construction. His research findings have been published in leading journals such as Automation in Construction, Interactive Learning Environment, Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, IEEE Transactions on Robotics, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, etc. He has 10 books co-edited on Simulation, Serious Games, and Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality for Education. He is also a visiting professor at the University of Johannesburg.
Prof Hsin-Kai Wu (National Taiwan Normal University)
Hsin-Kai Wu (PhD) is an NTNU Chair Professor in the Graduate Institute of Science Education at the National Taiwan Normal University. Her research interests include learning technology, chemistry education, computer-based assessment, and early childhood science education. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education and an associate editor of the Journal of Research in Science Teaching. Her research work has been published and highlighted in leading journals and recognized with the Early Career Award from the USA-based National Association for Research in Science Teaching and the Outstanding Research Award from the National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan. She is a visiting professor at the University of Johannesburg.
Prof Tutaleni Asino (Oklahoma State University)
Tutaleni I. Asino (PhD) is an Associate Professor at Oklahoma State University’s College of Education and Human Sciences, directing the Emerging Technology and Creativity Research Lab. His global research spans informal and formal learning spaces, focusing on Emerging Technologies in Learning environments, Comparative and International Education, Mobile Learning, Indigenous knowledge, and Open Education. Actively engaged in associations like CIES, AECT, and the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education, he’s chaired various groups, including the Indigenous Knowledge Special Interest Group. Tutaleni, a Carnegie Africa Diaspora Fellow, also served as a visiting associate professor at the University of Johannesburg, showcasing a deep commitment to advancing education globally.
Research Associates
Dr Sami Lehesvuori ( University of Jyväskylä)
Sami Lehesvuori (PhD) is an adjunct professor at the University of Jyväskylä with a demonstrated history of working in the research industry. Skilled in Science Education, Computer Science, Teacher Training, Science, and Teacher Evaluation. He is a strong research professional with a focus on university-level pedagogical development, classroom interaction and dialogic teaching. He is a research associate at the University of Johannesburg.
Dr Johnson Upahi (University of Ilorin)
Johnson Enero Upahi (PhD) is a Research Associate in the Department of Science and Technology Education at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa and a lecturer in the Department of Science Education at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. His research endeavour is focused on context and problem-based learning, the nature of science and scientific literacy, and science document analysis. His recent research interest focuses on inquiry-based learning, learning progression in science and teachers’ PCK, teacher talk, argumentation and scientific explanations. He has extensive teaching and research experience that spans a period of about ten years. He is passionate about science teaching and learning and has mentored and supervised several students’ research projects at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Johnson is a Research associate at the University of Johannesburg.
Ying-Shao Hsu (PhD)is a Professor of the Graduate Institute of Science Education and the Department of Earth Sciences, as well as Vice President for Research and Development at the National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU). She also holds the position of Chair Professor at NTNU. Her research focuses on auto-scoring, e-learning and teaching, SocioScientific Issue (SSI) teaching, inquiry learning, metacognition, and STEM education. Professor Hsu’s research work has been recognized with Outstanding Research Awards by the Minister of Science Technology (MOST) in Taiwan (2011 & 2015), National Science Council Reward Special Talents (2010 & 2011), National Taiwan Normal University Research Awards (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, & 2012), and Wu Da-Yu Memorial Award (2005). Ying-Shao is a visiting professor at the University of Johannesburg.
Dr Garima Bansal has served varying roles in the education sector ranging from a schoolteacher, university educator, and a research fellow in the Australian Council for Educational Research. Her research interests entail education assessment; science and mathematics education; and teacher education. She has published widely with top-tier journals with publishers, such as, Taylor and Francis and Springer. She has been a recipient of international awards by renowned academic bodies like the International Association of Education Assessment, the American Evaluation Association, and the British Educational Research Association. She serves on the editorial board of the journal Education 3-13.